Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Needled or Scaled Evergreen
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Western United States
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Norway Spruce, White Spruce, Picea omorika
Number of Varieties
2025
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Tropical regions
Rocky areas, stream banks, Woodland Garden Canopy
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-152-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
8-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Clump-Forming
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm1,200.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
120.00 cm900.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
Green, Orange, Purple
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green, Blue Green, Steel Blue
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Blue Green, Steel Blue
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Blue Green, Steel Blue
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Blue Green, Gray Green, Steel Blue
Shape
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Needle like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Early Spring, Late Spring, Mid Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Seedlings, Semi-ripe cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune in winter, Remove crossing or rubbing branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
Apply 10-10-10 amount, slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
-
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
Rash
allergic reaction, Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Hay fever, Pollen, Respiratory problems, Runny nose, Watery eyes
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes, Used as Christmas tree
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
Flowers, Inner Bark, Seeds
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Paper pulp, Wood is used in construction
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Screening, Wind Break
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
PICEA pungens
Common Name
Shell Ginger
Colorado blue spruce
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
Blue Spruce Tree
In German
Shell Ginger
Blue Spruce Baum
In French
Shell Ginger
Blue Spruce Arbre
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
Blue Spruce Árbol
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
Blue Spruce Tree
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
Árvore Spruce azul
In Polish
Shell Imbir
Blue Spruce Drzewo
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
Blue abiegnis
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Coniferophyta
Class
Lilopsida
Pinopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Pinales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Pinaceae
Genus
Alpinia
Picea
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
-
Tribe
Alpinieae
-
Subfamily
Alpinioideae
Piceoideae
Number of Species
15035
1
27800
👆🏻